STURGIS, SD – The Sturgis Scoopers boys basketball team used balanced scoring and domination in the paint to overwhelm the Belle Fourche Broncs on Saturday night, 62-37.
Gavin Lightenberg splashed in two threes and Tyan Buus added another trey to give the Scoopers a 22-6 lead after the first quarter.
Sturgis outscored the Broncs 16-12 in the second quarter as Lightenberg hit two more 3-pointers to lead the Scoopers in the scoring in the first half with 12 points. Sturgis big man Jake Vliem tallied seven points and eight rebounds at the intermission and the Scoopers led 38-18 at the half.
The Broncs came to life in the third quarter behind three-pointers from Jet Jensen, Anthony Staley and two from Nolan Wahlfeldt to cut the Scooper lead to just 10 points, 42-32 headed into the fourth. Ryan Heinert popped in a three and Buus added two more to help the Scoops outscore the Broncs 20-4 in the final stanza to cruise to the win.
Sturgis (7-8) had four players in double figures: Lightenberg scored 12 points, Vliem achieved a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds, and Buus and Heinert chipped in 10 apiece. The Scoopers were 22-of-49 for 44% from the field and 11-of-17 from the free throw line for 64%. Sturgis had six turnovers and 31 rebounds and totaled nine three-pointers in the game.
Belle Fourche (6-11) shot 23% from the field, going 14-of-59, and 75% from the charity stripe, making 3-of-4. The Broncs committed five turnovers and grabbed 27 rebounds. Anthony Budmayr scored 12 points and snared nine rebounds for Belle Fourche.
The Scooper boys and girls are in action next at Red Cloud on Tuesday. The girls tip off is scheduled for 6pm at Red Cloud Indian School.
